dougsneyd

Doug's Studio in Canada - Winters on the Alabama Gulf Coast

2012-01-29T06:03:00.000-08:00

Doug works on the third floor of his home-studio overlooking beautiful Lake Couchiching, about 80 miles north of Toronto. Natural lighting is important to his work; winters on the Alabama Gulf Coast also afford both excellent lighting and spectacular views.

We overlook Terry Cove and, in the distance, condominiums on Alabama Gulf Coast beaches.

We're steps away from the lazy river and outdoor heated pools.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Personalizing Copies of Unpublished Sneyd - See the Process!

2012-01-22T06:03:00.000-08:00

In the years since Doug's first cartoon was published in Playboy - September 1964, he has submitted thousands of cartoon gag roughs. Of course, not all can be selected for final art and ultimate publication in the magazine.

Unpublished Sneyd, now in its second printing, features 100 of Doug's favorite unpublished gag roughs - the best of the undiscovered Sneyds.

Visit http://www.dougsneyd.com/ for information on ordering a personalized copy, featuring a B & W profile sketch of a classic Sneyd girl-next-door with bunny ears on the Introduction Page.

Copies are $25.00, plus $5.00 S/H to U.S. and Canadian addresses.

Doug is happy to personalize each book - "To Artur with every good wish from Doug."

Artwork on the Introduction Page begins with a quick red pencil sketch.

Doug then begins to "sweeten" the sketch.

More details in pencil are added and the sketch is refined.

It's now time to finish the sketch using an ultra fine point Sharpie.

Doug gives his girl-next-door a final flair!

Before writing "best wishes," Doug adds his stylized signature.

Every copy of Unpublished Sneyd ordered though the website or sold at a comic-cartoon convention features an original Sneyd classic girl-next-door!

Doug's first convention for 2012 is WonderCon March 16-18 in Anaheim, California.

(blog posts by Heidi Hutson)

Blond on the Rocks - Limited Edition Print Will Debut at WonderCon March 16-18

2012-01-15T06:03:00.000-08:00

The original 11 x 17 Blond on the Rocks is posted on the Doug Sneyd Premium Gallery on comicartfans; limited edition prints will be available at WonderCon March 16-18 in Anaheim, California.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Creating 11 x 17 Blond With Tattoo

2012-01-08T06:03:00.000-08:00

Doug's first comic-cartoon convention for 2012 will be WonderCon March 16-18 in Anaheim, California; he'll be selling personalized copies of Unpublished Sneyd, original artwork and limited edition prints. Blond With Tattoo, which he's working on here, will be one of several 11 x 17 debuting at WonderCon.

Original artwork, like Blond with Tattoo, is posted on the Doug Sneyd Premium Gallery at comicartfans.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T06:05:00.000-08:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Happy Holidays!

2011-12-25T06:05:00.000-08:00

Over the years Doug has submitted thousands of gag roughs to Playboy. Of course, not all can be selected for final art and ultimate publication in the magazine.

However, we've selected a few favorite unpublished roughs to share with you this holiday season - enjoy!

(blog post by Heidi Hutson)

Creating 11 x 17 Blond in Jungle Print

2011-12-18T06:03:00.000-08:00

Although Doug's first 2012 convention - WonderCon March 16-18 in Anaheim, California - is months away, he's started working on watercolor 11 x 17 artwork. Originals, like Blond in Jungle Print, will be posted for sale on his Premium Gallery on comicartfans; 11 x 17 limited edition prints (1-25) will debut at WonderCon.

I thought you might find the creative process interesting - starting with a pencil sketch on 100% cotton 140 Lb. cold pressed Arches of France watercolor board.

For years, Doug has used Dr. Ph. Martin's aniline dyes, which give a nice translucent effect.

Typically, the last thing he works on is his signature.

***Please note: Our Epson scanning bed is smaller than 11 x 17 so the artwork was xeroxed and reduced before being scanned; therefore, some of the colors are not as pronounced and details are not as sharp as in the original.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

The Art of Doug Sneyd - A Great Holiday Gift Suggestion

2011-12-18T06:01:00.000-08:00

The 248-page The Art of Doug Sneyd, launched mid-July by Dark Horse Comics and already in a second printing, would make a great Christmas gift for those who enjoy Playboy's distinctive brand of humor.

It's available online from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, etc. or can be ordered through local bookstores; the standard-edition hardcover features nearly 270 of Doug's full-page color Playboy cartoons. He also wrote eleven chapter introductions featuring anecdotes and personal reflections.

Doug will be happy to personalize copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd if fans plan to attend one of the following 2012 comic-cartoon conventions:

Wonder-Con (Anaheim, California) - March 16-18

Pittsburgh Comicon April 20-22

San Diego Comic-Con - July 11-15

Fan Expo Canada (Toronto) - August 23-26

Montreal Comic Con September 14-16

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Moscow

2011-12-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

Doug and I arrived in Moscow around 6 p.m. and had just enough time to unpack our suitcases before starting an escorted evening tour of the city. It's a vibrant huge city, especially beautiful at night.

The GUM department store on Red Square was lovely. Before the 1917 Revolution, it contained 1,200 stores. In 1928 Stalin closed GUM and converted it into office space; it reopened in 1953 as a department store. Today, tourists make it a "destination" - much like Harrods in London or Saks in New York.

Doug's in front of Lenin's Mausoleum on Red Square; there is no longer any ceremonial changing of the guard in front of the mausoleum. It's estimated that more than 10 million people visited his tomb between 1924-1972.

Stalin's embalmed body shared a spot next to Lenin from 1953-1961.

Inside the Kremlin, we visited the Cathedral of the Domition; in 1547 the coronation of the first Russian czar, Ivan the Terrible, took place there. The last coronation service was held May 26, 1896 for Nicholas II.

While touring the Kremlin complex, we stopped to see the czar's bell - 22' wide and 20' tall. Made of bronze, the bell was broken during casting and has never been rung; the broken piece weighs nearly 25,000 lbs.

The czar's cannon, cast in bronze in 1586, is also located in the Kremlin complex. It has never been fired in war.

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is dedicated to Soviet soldiers killed during World War II.

Moscow celebrated the 450-year anniversary of St. Basil's Cathedral this year. The onion-domed landmark was built to honor Ivan the Terrible's victory over Russia's former Tatar conquerors.

A lovely fountain inside the main central entrance to the GUM department store is a popular meeting spot; it's also a photo stop for newlyweds.

Natural light from the skylights make shopping and sightseeing at the GUM's 200-plus stores a pleasure.

Moscow's rapid transit system is the second largest in the world (Tokyo is first) with the most beautiful stations on the Ring and dark blue lines. Each is like a palace/museum - whether decorated with bronze statues, mosaic tiles, stained glass or ornate chandeliers.

It opened in 1935 with one line and 13 stations; today it has 182 stations carrying nearly 9 million people each weekday.

Not all stations are beautiful, but Doug and I found our 3-hour escorted tour very interesting. We were also impressed that there was no graffiti!

Moscow has 2 circuses, but friends who had visited there previously, told us we "had to see" the Old Moscow Circus, founded in 1880. It was a lot of fun; our favorite act showcased the antics of several adorable dachshunds.

A bronze statue outside the entrance to the circus pays tribute to the Russian clown Karandash.

We spent our last night in Moscow attending the finals of the 15th annual International Singing Competition of Italian Opera at the lovely Bolshoi Theatre.

Twelve finalists performed that evening, representing "the best" from more than 600 singers from over 28 nations competing in the annual contest of young opera talents.

The second floor lobby was as lovely and impressive as the theatre itself; we had a wonderful last evening in Moscow!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Raquel and Angel Have Doug Personalize Copies of Unpublished Sneyd

2011-12-11T06:04:00.000-08:00

Raquel (from Montreal) asked Doug to personalize Unpublished Sneyd to her husband Mitch.

Angel and her husband Patrick (from Sudbury, Ontario) decided to celebrate their first wedding anniversary attending Fan Expo Canada; Doug's sketch of Angel in Unpublished Sneyd was a great souvenir of their weekend in Toronto.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Imaginism Studios: Artists and Friends

2011-12-11T06:03:00.000-08:00

Doug and I met Bobby Chiu, president of Imaginism Studios in Toronto, in July of 2007 on an Air Canada flight from Toronto to San Diego, California to exhibit at the San Diego Comic-Con, the largest comics-cartoon convention in North America.

We've stayed in touch with Bobby, Kei Acedera (art director) and Imaginism Studios' artists and staff; Fan Expo Canada is always a great time to get together - our tables in Artist Alley are across the aisle from one another and we always go out to dinner one evening after the convention closes.

Bobby is always busy during Fan Expo - talking with fans, offering suggestions concerning animation projects or answering questions about Schoolism online art classes.

Doug and I didn't see Kei (left) a lot during the 4-day convention this year because of project deadlines, but she did stop in one day to say "hello."

Lillian, Peter and Jason were across the aisle from us in Artist Alley during Fan Expo Canada; we had a chance to catch up with our lives when we all went for dinner at Dazzling, 291 King Street West. Peter had been to the restaurant before and made the dinner reservation. Great choice, Peter!

Meeting for dinner after a long convention day is a great idea - thanks, Bobby, Kei and Peter for including us!!!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Costumes Made 2011 Fan Expo Canada Interesting and FUN!!!

2011-12-11T06:02:00.000-08:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: St. Petersburg

2011-12-11T05:55:00.000-08:00

Four days in St. Petersburg gave Doug and me time for a good overview of, according to travel specialist Rick Steves, "a showpiece of vanished aristocratic opulence shot through with the grimy ruins of socialism . . . Russia's most accessible and most tourist-worthy city."

His assessment was correct! Our tour started with a stop at the cruiser Aurora, which has been a museum since 1956. Its importance to the city's history began at 9:40 p.m. on October 25, 1917: a single blank round was fired from its bow to signal the storming of the czars' Winter Palace and the start of the Russian Revolution.

The Peter and Paul Fortress was a unique stop. We walked into bleak solitary-confinement prison cells - symbols of the city's grim history; enjoyed lovely, quiet parks; marvelled at the gold steeple and opulence of the cathedral housing the tombs of the Romanovs.

Another significant site in St. Petersburg is the Church on Spilled Blood, built on the spot where Czar Alexander II was assassinated on March 1, 1881. Although it was a grey, rainy morning, the five domes were lovely - jewellers' enamel was used to cover the 10,760 sq. foot surface.

A canal cruise is a great way to see the city, frequently called, along with Amsterdam, "Venice of the North." During an early evening cruise, Doug enjoyed dancing with one of the entertainers.

The Hermitage consists of several buildings, but the most impressive is the Winter Palace, official residence of the Imperial family until the Revolution.

Catherine the Great amassed one of Western Europe's best collections, including 2,500 paintings, 10,000 carved gems and 10,000 drawings. The floor-to-ceiling opulence in the hundreds of rooms in the complex is a visual feast!

We also visited St. Isaac's Russian Orthodox cathedral, which took 40 years (1818-1858) to construct. During WWII, the gilded dome was painted over in grey to avoid attracting attention from enemy aircraft. Under the Soviet government, the building was stripped of religious trappings, but with the fall of Communism, regular worship was resumed but only in the left-hand side chapel. The main body of the cathedral (nearly 43,000 sq. feet) is used for services on feast days only.

During our stay in St. Petersburg, we attended a ballet performance of Swan Lake at the 582-seat theatre built by Catherine the Great in the Hermitage complex.

Our 4-day visit to St. Petersburg ended with a full-day's visit to the lavish imperial palace, parks and gardens at Tsarskoye Selo. The jewel of the 1,400-acre site is the Catherine Palace; the 980-foot long Baroque facade is adorned with atlantes, columns and ornamental window framings.

Mirrors, gilded carvings and the vast ceiling painting make The Great Hall an unforgettable experience.

Exquisite stucco bas-reliefs in the Green Dining Room were said to be based on motifs from frescoes discovered in Pompeii.

The parks and gardens are popular with couples getting married.

As Doug and I were leaving the summer residence of the Russian czars, we stopped at the sculpture honoring Alexander Pushkin, considered by many to be the greatest of Russian poets and founder of modern Russian literature.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Unpublished Sneyd: Perfect Fan Expo Momento for Animation Student from Peking, China

2011-12-04T06:04:00.000-08:00

While Doug was sketching Hagrid, he learned she was from Peking, China and would be in Toronto for a year to study animation at Sheridan College.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Mermaids: Here and in Copenhagen

2011-12-04T06:03:00.000-08:00

Doug's first-ever limited edition collectible statue is scheduled for delivery this month; contact CS Moore Studio Ltd. for information on ordering the 1/8 scale statue, which will include a Certificate of Authenticity signed by both Doug and sculptor Clayburn Moore.

A tour of Copenhagen isn't complete without a stop at the city's most famous landmark - The Little Mermaid, inspired by the ballet version of The Little Mermaid, which in turn was based on Hans Christian Andersen's tale about a mermaid who falls in love with a prince.

The final bronze cast was placed at the end of the harbour promenade in 1913, but after several acts of vandalism and pranks - in 1961 her hair was painted red and in 1964 her head was cut off, she was moved further off the shore.

The first stop on our 19-day fall vacation was Copenhagen and we were quite surprised to see how small The Little Mermaid really was; some tourists made their way down the steep rocks to get a closer look, but Doug was satisfied to see her from a distance.

River and canal cruises offer great views and our one-hour canal/harbour cruise in Copenhagen was fantastic. Although we'd seen the small famous statue earlier in the day from land, it was still interesting to see her from the tour boat.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Stephanie and Twiggy LOVE Wearing Costumes at Fan Expo Canada

2011-12-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

Doug didn't recognize Stephanie (from Toronto) when she stopped by Artist Alley to say "hello." She's been attending Fan Expo the last ten years; we met her three years ago when she bought Doug's limited edition print of Wonder Woman.

Why Wonder Woman? She was wearing a Wonder Woman costume; this year Stefanie wore 3 different costumes and stopped by to show us each one.

Twiggy's tattoos drew as much attention in Artist Alley as her Storm Trooper costume.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Tallinn

2011-12-04T05:55:00.000-08:00

During our 19-day fall trip, Doug and I had an opportunity to spend a day in Tallin, Estonia. It's a lovely historic city, which survived years of Soviet domination.

There are numerous reminders of Communism, like this sculpture in a beautiful park leading up to St. Mary's Cathedral in the Upper Town.

The weather was beautiful during our visit; there were several parks in the Upper Town.

St. Mary's Cathedral - also known as the Dome Church - is the oldest church in Tallinn and mainland Estonia.

During a tour of the Upper Town, our guide pointed out this section of the street because it represents centuries of history. The top right are original cobblestones, the crumbling bricks on the top left are from the Soviet period of domination, and the lower right are recent moulded cobblestones.

This is a view of Tallinn from Toompea, Tallinn's fortified hill. The city's intact city wall has 29 watchtowers, each topped with a pointed red roof.

After exploring the Upper Town, we made our way down to the Lower Town, beneath Toompea, for lunch at one of the many restaurants ringing the Town Hall Square.

Bob and Marion (center, from Princeton, New Jersey) joined us for a wonderful lunch at Kaerajaan.

The salmon with parmesan risotto was delicious!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sketches Wendy and Aisha

2011-11-27T06:05:00.000-08:00

Wendy (from Toronto) wanted a sketch so she could frame it.

While sketching Aisha (from Toronto), Doug learned she is a makeup artist/creative director of Chacha Cosmetics.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Lovely Gals in Costumes Visit With Doug

2011-11-27T06:03:00.000-08:00

Fans Wait to Meet Anime Voice Star Vic Mignogna in Signing Area

2011-11-27T06:01:00.000-08:00

Vic Mignogna is best known for voicing Edward Eric in Fullmetal Alchemist & Brotherhood; Fullmetal Alchemist is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa.

Mignogna is also recognized for work on Dragon Gall Z films and Tsubasa Chronicle.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Helsinki

2011-11-27T05:55:00.000-08:00

"Church in the Rock," which opened in 1969, was blasted out of solid rock and capped with a copper-and-skylight dome. It's at the top of a hill in a residential neighborhood.

When inside, most visitors are unaware of an air raid shelter under the "Church in the Rock." The shelter can accommodate 6,000 people.

Stainless-steel sculptural tribute to Finland's greatest composer, Jean Sibelius. The abstract work consists of 600 stainless-steel pipes built on solid rock in a lovely city park.

The green-domed 19th century Neoclassical Lutheran Cathedral is the "star" of the Senate Square. The huge staircase in front of the cathedral is a popular meeting spot in Helsinki.

Nearly 350,000 people visit the Lutheran Cathedral each year and can't help but be impressed with the magnificent organ.

Moose sculpture at the entrance to the National History Museum, which has the largest collection of animal specimens in Finland.

The National Museum of Finland has impressive displays of folk costumes, furniture, armory and prehistoric artifacts.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Personalizes Unpublished Sneyd With Sketches for Yvonne and Fernando

2011-11-20T06:05:00.000-08:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Disney Interactive Studio Adjacent to Busy Celebrity Signing Area

2011-11-20T06:03:00.000-08:00

Fan Expo Canada organized a busy 4-days for attendees wanting to meet celebrities and get autographs.

Sci Fi guests included: William Shatner, Eliza Dushku, Tom Felton, Hayden Panettiere, Lee Majors, Katee Sackoff, Sam Trammell, Kevin Sorbo, Michael Biehn and Karen Allen.

Horror guests included: Robert Englund, John Waters, John Astin and Elvira.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Ontario Blacksmith Stops To Visit With Doug

2011-11-20T06:02:00.000-08:00

Doug met blacksmith Bill Fedun last year at Fan Expo Canada; he enjoyed talking with him again this year as well as meeting Madeleine Wilson, who's wearing one of Bill's custom designs.

Bill works on armour, shields, knives and swords in his studio in Metcalf, Ontario, which is located about 15 miles south of Ottawa, the capital city of Canada.

In addition to promoting the South Tower Armouring Guild, Bill also teaches armour and chain mail-making and swordsmanship at Algonquin College and, through the City of Ottawa, at the Plant Recreation Centre on Preston Street.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Stockholm

2011-11-20T05:55:00.000-08:00

Our first stop in Stockholm was the Stadshuset, the seat of the capital's government. It's also the venue for annual Nobel Prize festivities. We're in the courtyard of the impressive building, which opened in 1923 and reportedly has over 8 million red bricks and 19 million chips of gilt mosaic.

Rooms decorated with gilt mosaic provide an elaborate backdrop for the annual Nobel Prize banquet; Doug took my picture in front of the Statue of Liberty/U.S. flag.

This display at City Hall shows the china, silverware and crystal used at the Nobel Prize annual banquet.

During a tour of Stockholm's Old Town (Gamla Stan), the guide stopped at the Iron Boy, the tiniest public statue (of about 600 statues) in the city. It is said to honor the orphans who had to transfer cargo from sea ships to lake ships before Stockholm's locks were built.

Stockholm's oldest square - Stortorget -features colorful historic buildings, cafes and shops.

The Vasamuseet complex is quite large, but the highlight is the 3-floor museum housing the warship Vasa, which has been meticulously restored after capsizing on its maiden voyage in 1628. It was top-heavy because of an extra cannon deck and sank in 20 minutes. (The replica of the complex is outside the entrance to the Vasa museum.)

Fortunately, we had beautiful weather for an afternoon visit to Skansen, the world's first open-air museum. It was founded in 1891 and showcases Swedish life and customs of bygone days.

(blog posts by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sketches Lindsay in Hydra Costume

2011-11-13T06:06:00.000-08:00

Lindsay and her husband Bron (from Toronto) had Doug to do a 9 x 12 pencil sketch of Lindsay in costume; she came back to visit a few hours later - this time in a Sue Storm Future Foundation costume.

Both of Lindsay's Marvel-themed costumes worn at Fan Expo Canada were created by Dani, a professional costume designer from Toronto.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Costume Designer from Ottawa Visits Doug

2011-11-13T06:05:00.000-08:00

Edith Chartier (left), a costume designer from Ottawa, stopped by Doug's table in Artist Alley and mentioned that she was participating in several scheduled Steampunk events, including the Steampunk Fashion Show, Steampunk 101, and Steampunk Costuming 101.

The next day she stopped by Artist Alley with a different costume (far right) and other Steampunk-inspired Fan Expo attendees, who planned to participate in the Steampunk Meet and Greet Costume Reception and Steampunk Photo Shoot.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Owner of Attic Raiders Talks With Doug

2011-11-13T06:04:00.000-08:00

After Doug talked with Melissa Wartenberg, owner of Attic Raiders - Steampunk Wonder Works from Edmonton, Alberta, I visited her booth at Fan Expo Canada.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Oslo

2011-11-13T05:55:00.000-08:00

The landmark tiger sculpture outside the train station in Oslo.

Oslo's largest park is named after the sculptor Gustav Vigeland, whose 212 sculptures depict humanity. The Wheel of Life was modelled in 1934. The wheel is a symbol of eternity and consists of a garland of men, women and children holding onto each other in an eternal cycle.

A second wrought iron gate in the 75-acre park leads up to the 56-foot tall Monolith comprised of 121 human figures, carved out of a single block of stone, supporting and holding onto each other.

Doug is on the roof of the 3-year-old opera house, which seats 1,300 in the main theatre. The $614-million opera house is part of a larger harbor redevelopment.

The Fram Museum, which opened in 1936, houses the 125-foot polar expedition ship that took Roald Amundsen deep into the Arctic and Antarctic. He was the first person to raise a flag on the South Pole.

The Viking Ship Museum houses 3 of the best preserved 9th century Viking longboats in existence.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

2011 Fan Expo Canada: Doug Sketches Andrea and Jennifer in Unpublished Sneyd

2011-11-06T06:05:00.000-08:00

Andrea and Steve, who regularly attend Fan Expo, recently moved to Toronto. Now, they no longer have to drive 6 hours from Ottawa to attend Fan Expo Canada.

Jennifer drove into Toronto from Niagara-on-the-Lake, "home" of the Shaw Festival and dozens of wineries. While sketching her, Doug learned she was studying to become a teacher.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Fan Expo Canada Attendees Get To Preview Doug's Limited Edition Mermaid Statue

2011-11-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

CS Moore Studio sent Doug a display prototype for the first-ever limited edition collectible statue based on a never-before-published Sneyd mermaid cartoon.

The 1/8" scale, 7" tall mermaid, priced at $159.00, is scheduled to ship December 2011; contact CS Moore Studio Ltd. to place an order. Each collectible statue will include a Certificate of Authenticity featuring the cartoon; the certificate will be signed by both Sneyd and Moore.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Copenhagen

2011-11-06T05:55:00.000-08:00

Our 19-day fall trip started with 4 nights in Copenhagen; we spent the first day at Tivoli Gardens, which opened in 1843 and is said to have inspired Walt Disney to create Disneyland.

Doug's at the main entrance gate at Vesterbrogade; it was built in 1896.

There are dozens of restaurants and food pavilions throughout the 20-acre amusement park; the Moorish-style Restaurant Nimb is one of the most distinctive and beautifully landscaped.

Although Tivoli Gardens is situated in the heart of the city, it's planted with almost 1,000 trees and 400,000 flowers, which were still lovely in early September.

When it opened, the 2 main attractions were a carousel with horses and a wooden roller coaster, but over the years it has expanded its amusement rides and taken on a Great America-feel.

Doug and I skipped the rides, opting instead for the open-air stage performances and walking the lovely grounds.

Friends with relatives living in Copenhagen suggested that we have dinner at Groften, which opened in 1874 next to the Pantomime Theatre - the oldest building in Tivoli Gardens.

Although it was busy, serving an average of 1,200 guests a day, the service was great, food was delicious - a real value!

Today Nyhavn is lined with bars, restaurants, cafes and jazz clubs; the 328-yard canal was dug by soldiers in the 1670s and enabled ships loaded with merchandise to sail into the center of Copenhagen.

The DFDS guided canal-harbor cruise we took from Nyhavn was a fantastic way to see beautiful Copenhagen and its major historic sights and attractions.

It was interesting to see Copenhagen's most famous landmark, The Little Mermaid, from the water. The bronze-cast figure debuted in 1913. Unfortunately over the years it has been the victim of vandals, who've doused her with paint and cut off her head three times. Subsequently, the tiny figure on a rock has been moved a little further towards the sea.

One of the most unique sights to see from the water is the 19th century Royal Library (Det Kongelige Bibliotek) and the recent ultra-modern "Black Diamond" extension, featuring black glass and granite imported from Zimbabwe.

Mention "winter garden" and Danes know you're referring to the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, a world-class museum with thousands of ancient statues, mosaics and artifacts. The glass-domed winter garden and adjacent cafe offer a beautiful, quiet oasis.

The Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, founded by the Carlsberg Brewery and across the street from Tivoli Gardens, houses the largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside of Paris.

Doug's checking out the "Burghers of Calais."

A statue of Denmark's most famous resident, Hans Christian Andersen, is across from City Hall; it's a great photo op!

Tour buses always stop at The Little Mermaid; Doug didn't venture down closer because of a steep incline and slippery rocks at the water's edge.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Checks Out "Real Steel" Stars

2011-10-30T06:05:00.000-07:00

Before the doors officially opened for the 18th annual Fan Expo Canada, Doug checked out the exhibit for Real Steel, a boxing drama set in the future where 2,000-pound humanoid robots do battle.

The movie, based on the short story Steel by Richard Matheson, stars Hugh Jackman and was produced by Dreamworks/Reliance Entertainment. It opened October 7th.

(blog posts by Heidi Hutson)

Exhibitors Prepare for 4 p.m. Opening of Toronto's 18th Annual Fan Expo Canada

2011-10-30T06:03:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

The Art of Doug Sneyd: Second Printing Availability - Artwork Added to Doug's CAF Premium Gallery

2011-10-23T06:07:00.000-07:00

Dark Horse Comics launched The Art of Doug Sneyd mid-July; because of strong early sales, the book went into a second printing - and, when talking to Dark Horse recently, I learned that books from the second printing have arrived from overseas and are now being distributed to retailers.

In fact, a number of fans and collectors of Doug's work have emailed to tell us that Amazon has notified them that back orders are being filled - so, if you've ordered Doug's 248-page hardcover book, with nearly 270 of his Playboy cartoons featured, you should be notified soon about receiving your copy.

If you haven't already done so, contact your local bookseller or online retailer to order your copy. You can also contact www.TFAW.com (1-800-862-0052) - the official retailer for Dark Horse Comics.

FYI: Check out Doug's Premium Gallery on comic art fans for artwork posted in the last 3 weeks.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Fan Expo Canada Exhibitors Set Up for August 25-28 Convention in Toronto

2011-10-23T06:05:00.000-07:00

The largest comic-cartoon convention in Canada and 3rd largest in North America expanded to 4 days this year and featured over 700 retailers and artists in 400,000 sq. ft.

Although fans started to line up early Thursday morning, August 25, the 18th annual show didn't officially open to the public until 4 p.m. - giving exhibitors ample time to get displays ready.

Doug was once again a Special Guest in the show's expanded Artist Alley.

Mark you calendar's for next year - Fan Expo Canada will be August 23-26!

(blog posts by Heidi Hutson)

deviantART Sponsors Artists' Alley at SDCC

2011-10-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

Thanks to deviantART, Artists' Alley, which was down the main aisle from Doug's table with Big Wow Art, had a new look in an effort to showcase talent at SDCC 2011.

While attending a Thursday evening, July 21 buffet hosted by Bob Self, president of Baby Tattoo Books, Doug and I met Angelo Sotira, CEO and founder of deviantART, and Andrew McCann, chief technology officer of deviantART.

It gave us an opportunity to tell them how their sponsorship of Artists' Alley added to the continued success of SDCC.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Last Sketches for 2011: Tatiana and Ashley

2011-10-16T06:03:00.000-07:00

We spent a lot of time during SDCC talking with Tatiana and other artists exhibiting with Big Wow Art; Doug hopes she enjoys her pencil sketch, which is now posted on her Comic Art Fans Premium Gallery - Tatiana Dykes.

While sketching Ashley, Doug learned she was a beautician so the topic of hairstyles, extensions and feather accessories dominated the conversation.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Dinner With Echo

2011-10-16T06:02:00.000-07:00

After a hectic day at the convention center from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., it's great to have dinner with friends. Doug and I first met Echo Chernik (center) at the 2010 Fan Expo Canada in Toronto and enjoyed dinner at SDCC this year with her and Playboy cartoonist Dean Yeagle and his wife Barbara.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Comedy Writer Stops by Big Wow Art

2011-10-16T06:01:00.000-07:00

Jenny Klein, a comedy writer for Big Games Hunters, an LA-based sketch comedy troupe performing since October 2004, always stops by to say "hello" and update us on her work, which also includes writing gags for Doug.

Nothing like that SDCC spirit!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

SDCC 2011: Friends, Fun and Fantasy

2011-10-09T06:04:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Joanne Takes Unpublished Sneyd Back to Atlanta

2011-10-09T06:03:00.000-07:00

After learning Joanna was from Atlanta, Doug talked to her about Dragon-Con, held annually since 1987 over Labor Day weekend. Joanna had Doug personalize Unpublished Sneyd for herself and Nate.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Sword and the Stone Blacksmith, Tony Swatton, Visits Doug at SDCC Booth

2011-10-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

Doug and I met Tony Swatton, blacksmith and owner of the Sword and the Stone, at SDCC 2007; he visits our booth at Big Wow Art every year - dressed in one of his company's designs. Whether a gladiator, buccaneer or Viking, he's a fun, interesting SDCC friend whose livelihood is designing and executing custom swords, weapons, armor, etc. for film production companies and special events.

When he stopped by on Saturday, he suggested that I might enjoy wearing a costume. How about Wonderwoman? In fact, it was his company design that had been worn in an episode from The Big Bang Theory, a popular CBS sitcom that premiered in September 2007.

I quickly said, "Yes!" So Sunday, the last day of the 5-day convention, I joined in the fun.

Thank you, Tony!

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

California Ladies - Sonia and Ivania - Ask Doug for Sketches: Bunny Ears Are Optional!

2011-10-02T06:02:00.000-07:00

Sonia drove down from San Francisco.

Ivania (from Lancaster, California) told Doug she attends SDCC on a regular basis and typically wears a costume.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Lovely Ladies Visit Doug at Big Wow Art

2011-09-25T06:01:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

SDCC Attendees - Sara and Yvonne - From Near and Far Stop by for Personalized Sketch in Unpublished Sneyd

2011-09-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

Sara and Carlos were attending SDCC for the first time; their flight from Medellin, Columbia to San Diego took 7 hours.

Yvonne lives in Burbank, California.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Dark Horse Scheduled Doug for Signing

2011-09-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

Dark Horse Comics scheduled artist signings during the 5-day SDCC; Patrick Thorpe (seated on left) from the Dark Horse editorial staff worked during Doug's signing on Sunday afternoon, July 24.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

San Diego Residents, Desiree and Araceli, Get Doug Sneyd Originals at SDCC

2011-09-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Desiree had Doug personalize her copy of Unpublished Sneyd for Mike.

Araceli had her pencil sketch done on Arches of France watercolor paper.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Personalizes Unpublished Sneyd for Samantha and Sari

2011-09-11T06:03:00.000-07:00

Samantha lives in Los Angeles.

Sari (from Hollywood) works in visual effects and animation.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Attendees Have Fun Wearing Costumes

2011-09-11T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Visits "The Playboy Club" Promotion

2011-09-04T06:03:00.000-07:00

Thursday, July 21 several fans of Doug's artwork stopped by Big Wow Art and told him about the NBC promotion for the fall series The Playboy Club, airing Monday nights against Hawaii 5-0 on CBS.

The network booked the Tin Fish Restaurant, directly across from the San Diego Convention Center, and transformed it to resemble the 1960's nightclub made famous by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

Fans had their pictures taken with Bunnies and also could get their very own key to The Playboy Club; Doug didn't get a key, just a photo with one of the Bunnies.

The SDCC experience isn't totally confined to the convention center; a promotion for the Total Recall remake, starring Colin Farrell in the role made famous by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1990's epic, was also outside SDCC.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Jessica Visits Doug at Big Wow Art

2011-09-04T06:01:00.000-07:00

Despite a hectic day in costume, Jessica Rizo, a contemporary pop singer from San Francisco, still looks lovely. While Doug sketched her, she told him that she has a new album - Don't Speak Just Listen - debuting shortly.

Friday morning, July 22: Jessica (right) and a friend visited Doug at Big Wow Art.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Friends and Colleagues at SDCC 2011

2011-08-28T06:03:00.000-07:00

Doug and I met Bobby Chiu, president of Imaginism Studios in Toronto, and Kei Acedera on a flight from Toronto to San Diego for our first SDCC in 2007. Later, they convinced Doug to exhibit at Fan Expo Canada, where he's been a Featured Guest the past 2 years.

We've remained friends over the years and are glad they're obviously enjoying The Art of Doug Sneyd, which is now in a second printing.

Dean Yeagle, creator of Mandy, is also a cartoonist for Playboy magazine.

Doug has been exhibiting at SDCC with Big Wow Art since 2007; his corner is across the aisle from Stan Sakai and his wife. Stan is the creator of Usagi Yojimbo ("rabbit bodyguard"), a comic book series introduced in 1987.

Doug first met Tommy Castillo in 2009 while exhibiting in Artist Alley at MegaCon in Orlando.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sketches Lena and Carolyn in Unpublished Sneyd

2011-08-28T06:02:00.000-07:00

While Doug was sketching Lena (a resident of San Diego), they chatted about our fall trip to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, St. Petersberg and Moscow.

Carolyn, the executive producer of The Healthy Voyager, had Doug personalize her sketch in Unpublished Sneyd for her husband Dan.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Lovely Gals Stop by Big Wow Art Booth

2011-08-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Thursday, August 25: Doug Presents Workshop at Fan Expo Canada

2011-08-21T06:07:00.000-07:00

Fan Expo Canada has scheduled It's in the Punchline: Gag Humor Cartooning With Playboy's Doug Sneyd for Thursday, August 25, at 6 p.m. in Room #717 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The moderator for the workshop will be Paul Truster; the Programming Coordinator-Workshops is Walter Dickinson.

With a record 64,992 fans in attendance for the August 2010 convention, it was decided to expand Fan Expo Canada to 4 days in 2011: August 25-28th.

Doug is a Featured Guest and will exhibit at P7 in Artists' Alley.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Exhibits at 17th Annual Fan Expo Canada August 25-28

2011-08-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

Doug will exhibit as a Featured Guest at Fan Expo Canada August 25-28 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.

Convention hours are:

Thursday, August 25: 2-9 p.m.
Friday, August 26: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, August 27: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Sunday, August 28: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

He will again be accepting convention commissions, doing 9 x 12 pencil sketches, personalizing copies of Unpublished Sneyd and selling limited edition prints, sketchbooks and original 10 x 14 watercolor art.

If attendees have previously purchased copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Comics, they can bring them to the convention so Doug can sign them. Please check the program for his location in Artist Alley as a Featured Guest .

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Participates in Sketch Theatre Video

2011-08-21T06:05:00.000-07:00

Doug was among the artists invited to create original artwork for Sketch Theatre, returning to SDCC for its third consecutive year. Throughout the 5-day convention, nearly 100 artists were scheduled for videotaping at the Baby Tattoo Books booth.

Baby Tattoo Books publishes illustrated pop-culture books and is a worldwide sponsor of Dr. Sketchy's Anti-Art School; company president Bob Self invited Doug to videotape for the Sketch Theatre project.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sketches Kirsten and Abby in Unpublished Sneyd

2011-08-21T06:04:00.000-07:00

James, who owns Isotope - The Comic Book Lounge in San Francisco, and Kirsten visited SDCC Thursday, July 21. Kirsten decided having a personalized sketch in Doug's 52-page Unpublished Sneyd would be the perfect convention souvenir!

Doug personalized Unpublished Sneyd to "Abby and Matt."

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Artwork Featured in Fabulous Faces Sketchbook

2011-08-21T06:03:00.000-07:00

SDCC regular Robert Plunkett purchased one of Doug's 9 x 12 watercolor originals - titled "Redhead with Tobacco Brown Eyes" - that will be featured in his newest convention sketchbook, Fabulous Faces.

Doug will debut the 24-page convention sketchbook at Fan Expo Canada in Toronto August 25-28 at the Metro Toronto Convention Center.
(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sketches Nazan and Khwan

2011-08-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

Doug did pencil profile sketches of Nazan (from Santa Monica, California) and Khwan (from Los Angeles) on 100% cotton 140 Lb. cold pressed Arches of France watercolor paper.

Thursday, July 21: Doug sketched Khwan.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Brazilian Games Editor Interviews Doug

2011-08-14T06:03:00.000-07:00

Bruno Vasone, editor - games for arenaturbo.ig, stopped by Big Wow Art to ask Doug questions about exhibiting at SDCC and his career as a cartoonist with Playboy magazine.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Sees Costumes GALore at SDCC

2011-08-14T06:02:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

2011-08-14T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

After Preview Night: Dinner and Dancing at Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar in the San Diego Gaslamp District

2011-08-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

After Preview Night closed at 9 p.m., the Big Wow Art group was ready for dinner and entertainment.

Doug and I (far left) enjoyed both at Croce's Restaurant and Jazz Bar, located a few blocks from the Westin Gaslamp Hotel at 802 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp District.

Croce's, a popular landmark featuring live jazz nightly, is a tribute to singer-songwriter Jim Croce, who died at age 30 in a small commercial plane crash on September 20, 1973.

The food was delicious - in fact, it was so good that Doug and I had dinner a second time at Croce's; the music was awesome! Sue Palmer - the queen of Boogie Woogie in San Diego - was a fantastic entertainer whose 2009 album "On Air" was nominated for Best Blues Album by the San Diego Music Awards.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Prototype of Doug's Collectible Mermaid Statue Debuts at SDCC 2011

2011-08-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

Sculptor Clayburn Moore - CS Moore Studio Ltd. - and Doug were pleased to display the prototype of the first-ever, limited edition collectible statue based on a never-before-published Sneyd mermaid cartoon.

The 1/8 scale statue, fondly called Chlorine, is scheduled to ship December 2011 and can be pre-ordered on the CS Moore Studio website.

Each Sneyd mermaid statue will include a Certificate of Authenticity featuring the cartoon. Suitable for framing, the certificate will be signed by both the sculptor and artist.

Doug displayed one of two prototypes at his Big Wow Art booth.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Meets Chris J. Thompson from Orbital Comic Shop in London

2011-08-07T06:04:00.000-07:00

During our Air Canada flight from Toronto to San Diego on Tuesday, July 19, Doug and I met Chris J. Thompson, who was covering SDCC July 20-24 for First Comics News. He stopped by Big Wow Art to say "hello."

In addition to serving as the UK Editor-Comics and Gaming for First Comics News, Chris works at the Orbital Comic Shop, 8 Great Newport Street, London. In fact, before our flight from Toronto landed in San Diego, Chris told Doug that he'd already seen The Art of Doug Sneyd; Orbital was selling the standard-edition hardcover.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

SDCC 2011 Preview Night, July 20 Starts With A Visit From Zatanna

2011-08-07T06:01:00.000-07:00

The 6-9 p.m. Preview Night at SDCC is always hectic, but Doug makes time to say "hello" to the lovely Zatanna!

Doug did an 11 x 17 Zatanna commission in 2010; limited edition prints from the original debuted at C2E2 in Chicago April 2010.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

2011-08-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Dark Horse Comics Plans Second Printing for The Art of Doug Sneyd

2011-07-31T06:06:00.000-07:00

Doug's editor at Dark Horse Comics just emailed Doug that because of strong sales since the launch of The Art of Doug Sneyd mid-July, a second printing has been ordered.

The 248-page hardcover features over 270 of Doug's full-page color cartoons that have appeared in Playboy; his first cartoon was published in September 1964.

Playboy founder Hugh Hefner wrote the Foreword; Lynn Johnston, creator of For Better or For Worse, wrote the Introduction.

The book is organized into themes, and Doug's eleven chapter introductions feature anecdotes and personal reflections. He also shares his creative process by including a number of original gag roughs and lead-up pencil and color roughs.

Dark Horse Comics is the largest independent comic book publisher in the U.S.
(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Custom Cars and Motorcycles Make Debut at SDCC 2011

2011-07-31T06:04:00.000-07:00

Before SDCC attendees entered the convention hall on the Wednesday 6-9 p.m. preview night, exhibitors and artists participating in the July 20-24 international event had an opportunity to check out displays.

This year's "star" attractions included a number of cars and motorcycles.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

SDCC Exhibitors Finish Displays for 6 p.m. Opening on Wednesday, July 20th

2011-07-31T06:03:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Exhibitors Set Up Tuesday Afternoon for the Wednesday Evening, July 20th Opening of SDCC 2011

2011-07-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

2011-07-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

SDCC Dark Horse Comics' Signing Schedule

2011-07-24T06:06:00.000-07:00

SDCC attendees who would like to have Doug sign copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd can come to Dark Horse Comics - Booth 2615 - on Sunday, July 24 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

The 248-page book - with a Foreword by Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and an Introduction by For Better or For Worse creator Lynn Johnston - features over 270 color cartoons by Doug, whose cartoons have appeared in Playboy since September 1964.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

New Sketchbook Debuts at 2011 SDCC

2011-07-24T06:05:00.000-07:00

In addition to original artwork, personalized copies of Unpublished Sneyd, and 11 x 17 limited edition prints for sale at the July 20-24 San Diego Comic-Con, Doug has published three 24-page sketchbooks; the newest - Gorgeous Gals - debuts this year at SDCC.

Doug is again exhibiting with Big Wow Art - Booth 4903.

SDCC attendees can also stop by Big Wow Art and have Doug sign copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Comics, exhibiting at Booth 2615.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Gag Writer Rex May Reviews The Art of Doug Sneyd

2011-07-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

"I'm known as a cartoonist, of course, but before I was a cartoonist, I was in what might be the most anonymous profession of the business — gag writing. You'll see the occasional comic strip or panel with two creators mentioned, like Parker and Hart on The Wizard of Id. In most such cases, one is the cartoonist and the other is the gag writer. But the vast majority of cartoons and comic strips and panels just have one name on them, that of the cartoonists, but a surprisingly large number of them are written largely by one or more anonymous gag writers.

My career started back in 1973 when I sold a short story to National Lampoon. I followed that up with some more writing sales there, decided that I liked that method of making money, and looked around for other such things to do. Then I saw a list of "Cartoonists Needing Writers" in Writers' Market. I started writing gags at that point, for some of the cartoonists listed there, and after a year or so I was selling to lots of freelance cartoonists and to a few syndicated features. Don't try this trick at home, kids. Or, rather, do try it if you want to, but don't quit your day job. Anyhow, I was doing all right that way, but after I'd written a few thousand gags, I had several of them that nobody had deigned to buy, so I drew them up myself, in my crude style, and started selling cartoons directly. And you can follow the links on this blog to see that I've done several thousand over the years. Well, somewhere in there, I tried some gags out on the unique Doug Sneyd, of Playboy, and scored. Since that time, I've written several gags for Doug to sell to Playboy.

. . . Doug is unique. His work is called 'cartoons' because they show up in magazines where cartoons usually appear, but there are fine artists out there who aren't nearly up to Doug's level. It's funny, really. Doug and I are both cartoonists, in much the same way that Dostoevsky and Danielle Steele are both novelists. I've been envying Doug his incredibly beautiful art style for years, and this book - The Art of Doug Sneyd published by Dark Horse Comics - is a treasury of his work. This is a book worth buying. None of your black-and-white stuff. This is the full-color, full-page stuff that first appeared in Playboy, only now it's printed on super-deluxe paper, handsomely bound, as they say, and big and heavy enough to knock a small horse down with. And the best part is, I'm mentioned on page 186. It's worth owning just for that :)"

CS Moore Studio Blog: Sneyd Mermaid Statue, Part 3/Tail Revisions

2011-07-24T06:03:00.000-07:00

"After talking with Doug, I lengthened her tail and slimmed it in the hips and rear area. You'll see in the photos a bit of an evolution in that once I made the adjustments, I decided to give her tail somewhat of a feminine legs crossed look or at least the illusion of that. It gives some variation and a more vibrant, dynamic feel to the tail. I also gave it a nice flip at the end. Once I started in on the changes as per Doug's input, I immediately saw the improvement and once I sent the photos to him, he was very happy with the result."

SDCC attendees should stop by the CS Moore Studio booth - 2800 - and talk with sculptor Clayburn Moore about the limited edition collectible statue based on a never-before-published Sneyd mermaid cartoon. The 1/8 scale statue is scheduled to ship in Third Quarter 2011.

Keep checking on Doug's blog and the CS Moore Studio website blog for updates on the development of the Sneyd Mermaid Statue.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

2011-07-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Dark Horse Comics Schedules Doug To Sign The Art of Doug Sneyd on Sunday, July 24 from 2:30-3:30 at SDCC

2011-07-17T06:06:00.000-07:00

Dark Horse Comics will sell The Art of Doug Sneyd at the July 20-24 San Diego Comic-Con at Booth 2615; Doug is also scheduled to sign books on Sunday, July 24 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.

The 248-page book features over 270 of Doug's Playboy cartoons as well as anecdotes and personal reflections in the eleven chapter introductions. He also shares his creative process by including a number of original gag roughs and preliminary pencil and color roughs.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Original Artwork For Sale at 2011 SDCC

2011-07-17T06:05:00.000-07:00

In addition to personalizing copies of Unpublished Sneyd and doing pencil and ink commissioned sketches during the July 20-24 SDCC, Doug will have several portfolios of original artwork available for sale. The classic Sneyd beauties featured below - in pencil with a Dr. Ph. Martin aniline dye wash for accent - were rendered earlier in his studio on 10 x 14 Arches of France watercolor paper.

Doug will again be exhibiting with Big Wow Art - Booth 4903.

SDCC attendees can also stop by the Big Wow Art booth and have Doug sign copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Comics and sold during the convention at the company booth - 2615. The 248-page book features nearly 270 of his 450+ Playboy cartoons as well as a section focusing on the development process from the original gag rough to preliminary pencils and final color roughs.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

CS Moore Studio Blog: Sneyd Mermaid Statue, Part 2/The Torso

2011-07-17T06:04:00.000-07:00

"At this point, I felt the most important aspect of the sculpture was to capture Doug's approach to Chlorine's torso. I worked in the body and more or less finished out the surface to give Doug a good idea of the direction I was going. I studied Doug's work and did my best to sculpt breasts that he would feel captured that "Sneyd" aesthetic.

I wasn't too worried about her tail yet, although I did want to show a nice shape and realistic weight to her lower body - as if she really were sitting on a rock. At the same time, I was going to work on finishing the tail soon, so I was hoping for some feedback and I needed to have enough there so that Doug could comment . . . and he did. While he liked the body and commented very favorably on that, he explained that the tail was too thick at the hips and too short to work well with the look of Chlorine's upper body and for the overall composition."

Follow the development process of the first-ever limited edition collectible statue based on Doug's work by visiting the CS Moore Studio website blog. Chlorine, as the statue is fondly called, is scheduled to ship in Third Quarter 2011.

SDCC attendees can visit the CS Moore Studio booth - 2800 - to get additional information about Chlorine, a 1/8 scale statue based on a never-before-published Sneyd mermaid cartoon.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

CS Moore Studio Blog: Sneyd Mermaid Statue, Introduction

2011-07-17T06:02:00.000-07:00

The CS Moore Studio - which creates licensed statues, busts and more based on pop culture, comic book and fantasy properties as well as original creations - is collaborating with Doug to create a limited edition collectible statue based on a never-before-published Sneyd mermaid cartoon.

Follow the development of the statue, fondly named Chlorine, on Doug's blog and in greater detail on the CS Moore Studio website blog.

Here's an excerpt with photos from the first website blog entry by sculptor Clayburn Moore concerning the development of the 1/8 scale statue scheduled to ship in Third Quarter 2011.

"One of the greatest and most rewarding things about being in this business is having the opportunity to work with some of the best and most talented artists in the comics and cartooning world. I've admired Doug Sneyd's cartoon art for as long as I can remember and when the chance came about to work with him, I was absolutely thrilled. At the same time, it's daunting because Doug has that rare and indefinable ability to draw his women with both a deep and powerful sensuality and a genuine innocence that flows together and complements one another seemingly effortlessly. This is aside from the difficulty of capturing Doug's approach to the faces of the girls he creates, which we'll discuss later.

. . . Doug's women have a softness and curviness that does not preclude their also being athletic and vivacious. This applies to his mermaids as well as his human women. In approaching the figure, the first order of business was to capture those qualities in the body language and attitude of the mermaid's body, which Doug has christened "Chlorine." While Doug draws his women's bust lines in a very recognizable way, at this point, they're unnecessary. The key is to capture the arch of the back, the curve of her tail, and the attitude implied in Chlorine's torso, and then to see what Doug thought of her so far.

. . . So here is Chlorine so far. Don't worry, she'll have all the important body elements in the next update!"

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Danube - Rhine River Cruise Ends

2011-07-17T06:01:00.000-07:00

Miltenberg was another quiet, lovely medieval town we were able to visit during our 15-day river cruise on the River Countess.

While in Rudesheim, we took a gondola ride up to the Niederwald Monument, passing over acres of grapes used in the production of Rheingau Riesling.

The Niederwald Monument, high above the city of Rudesheim - its history dates back to Roman times, was built to celebrate German unity.

Each city on our 15-day river cruise offered ample opportunities to stop and enjoy a coffee at a lovely cafe.
Heidelberg is a well preserved Baroque city nestled in the Neckar River Valley along Germany's Castle Road; ruins of the Heidelberg Castle loom over the historic city.

Although we had to get out our umbrellas while touring the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, it was well worth the effort to see such an impressive historic site.

Before flying out of Basel, Switzerland, we had a morning visit to Strasbourg, known as the Crossroads of Europe. The canal ride showcased a lovely historic city, especially the Petite France neighborhood with cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and flower-filled window boxes.

It was a wonderful 15-day river cruise on the Danube and Rhine; Doug and I returned home with wonderful memories as well as lots of photos from visits to charming cities and the delicious food served on the River Countess.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

2011-07-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

2011 SDCC: Limited Edition Prints For Sale

2011-07-10T06:05:00.000-07:00

Doug will again exhibit with Big Wow Art at the upcoming 5-day San Diego Comic-Con, the largest comic-cartoon convention in North America.

In addition to original pencil and ink/watercolor artwork, personalized copies of Unpublished Sneyd and 24-page sketchbooks available during the July 20-24 SDCC, Doug will be selling a number of 11 x 17 limited edition prints, including his classic bunny in black, Vampirella and Zatanna.

SDCC attendees can also stop by Big Wow Art - Booth 4903 - to have Doug sign copies of The Art of Doug Sneyd, published by Dark Horse Comics and sold at SDCC Booth 2615. It features over 270 of Doug's full-page, full-color Playboy cartoons as well as his personal reflections and anecdotes in chapter introductions. He also shares his creative process by including a number of original gag roughs and lead-up pencil and color roughs in the 248-page book.

At C2E2 (Chicago), Doug sold a number of his 11 x 17 limited edition prints of Zatanna.

And at the New York Comic-Con, Zatanna fans stopped by Artist Alley to have pictures taken with Doug's artwork.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Wurzburg and Rothenburg

2011-07-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

Fortress Marienberg was home to the *Prince Bishops from the 13th to the 18th Century, when they moved into the imposing Baroque Wurzburg Residence. It was severely damaged by the bombing raid which destroyed much of the Wurzburg - some 60 miles southeast of Frankfurt - in 1945. Restoration, however, went on for decades - all the way through 1987.

*Prince Bishops were clerics elected by Catholic church chapters who also functioned as secular rulers. Their money, tastes and thirst for the high life lured some of Europe's finest artists, architects and musicians to the region of Franconia in the 18th Cenutry. Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, one of the leading Italian artists of the 18th Century, worked at the Wurzburg Residence from 1750-1753; his epic ceiling fresco crowning the grand staircase was magnificent.

Wurzburg, best known for its white wines, is the center of the Bavarian wine producing region of Franconia.

After our tour of the elaborate Wurzburg Residence, Doug and I enjoyed a wine tasting in the former Prince Bishop's Court Cellar.

Rothenburg's fortress walls still stand to protect the core of Gothic churches and gabled houses on the Market Square.

If you're serious about Christmas, you had to visit the original Kate Wohlfahrt Christmas shop and museum that displays vintage toys from as early as the 17th Century.

After our morning tour of the historic district, we had some free time to explore on our own. Doug decided to check out the Medieval Crime Museum, which our tour guide said featured the best collection in Europe of antique objects and documents pertaining to crime and punishment.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

2011-07-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

PIE Magazine Interviews Playboy Founder Hugh Hefner and Cartoonist Doug Sneyd

2011-07-03T06:05:00.000-07:00

The new issue of PIE Magazine features an in-depth interview with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner as well as a feature on Doug, whose full-page, full-color cartoons have been in the magazine since September 1964.

PIE Magazine is a luxury lifestyle publication released 3 times a year, with distribution in major bookstores across Canada and in New York City. Issues can also be found in the rooms of the W Hotel chain.

Sandra Roberts is the editor/publisher.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Bamberg

2011-07-03T06:03:00.000-07:00

Our tour began early Sunday morning and surprisingly streets in the Old Town were empty, even though nearly 10,000 + runners from all over Europe were arriving to compete in the 5th World Heritage Race hosted in Bamberg.

It's easy to see why Bamberg has been designated a UNESCO world Heritage site; there are over 2,400 beautiful listed buildings.

Bamberg was my favorite city during our 15-day river cruise.

One of several entrances to the Bamberg Cathedral, a late Romanesque building with 4 grand towers.

Although it was too early in the year to appreciate the rose garden at the Neue Residence, the grounds were lovely.

Doug and I decided to stop for coffee and watch the start of the race in the Old Town.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

2011-07-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Doug Shares Anecdotes and Personal Reflections in The Art of Doug Sneyd

2011-06-26T06:05:00.000-07:00

The Dark Horse Comics publication, The Art of Doug Sneyd - scheduled for a July 13, 2011 release - features over 270 of Doug's full-page color cartoons published in Playboy since 1964.

The 248-page book is organized into themes; the eleven chapter introductions that Doug wrote offer anecdotes and personal reflections, including the story of meeting a young man named David at the 7th annual Emerald City Comic Con in April 2009. Chapter 2: Pickups, Hookups, Breakups relates the story of why Doug's October 1981 Playboy cartoon - "Tonight I'm Looking for a Good Guy" - was so special to this fan of Doug's cartoons.

The book is available in three formats; the standard-edition hardcover is priced at $39.95.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Waterloo Chronicle Publishes Interview with Doug

2011-06-26T06:04:00.000-07:00

Marshall Ward, Visual Artist reporter for the Waterloo Chronicle (Waterloo, Ontario), recently interviewed Doug; "Cartoonist more than a Playboy" was published June 14th.

Doug Sneyd, the legendary cartoonist for Playboy magazine since 1964, is still inspired by a good gag line.

"The one in the current issue is a good chuckle," Sneyd told me over the phone from his home studio overlooking Lake Couchiching in Orillia this past week. "It's a gal leaning up against a convertible and she's well-endowed and pretty. There's a cop behind her writing up a ticket and she says something like this: 'I know I have the right to remain silent, but I think you should know that I'm a screamer.'"

As a longtime fan of Sneyd's work, I was thrilled to learn that he will be a featured guest at the 2011 Fan Expo Canada comic convention this August at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

In addition to signing various publications, along with selling original artwork and limited edition prints, Sneyd will have personalized copies on hand of his book, Unpublished Sneyd, featuring 100 of his favourite Playboy "rejects."

"It's a collection of gag roughs," Sneyd explained. "One of my favourites is a mermaid and she's sitting on a rock; a sailor has just rowed up and he's looking at her with great enticement. And she says, 'Well, OK - but nothing kinky.'"

As well, Dark Horse Comics, the largest independent comic book publisher in the United States, will be at Fan Expo Canada selling copies of the book The Art of Doug Sneyd, featuring over 270 of Sneyd's Playboy colour cartoons.

"What's amazing is that all of a sudden, here I am pushing 80, and I've done over 450 of these cartoons, and it's hard to believe," said Sneyd.

"Time really creeps up on you." Born and raised in Guelph, Sneyd's prolific body of work - including syndicated political cartoons - have appeared in newspapers across North America.

As well, 30 of his full-page Playboy cartoons are among the 235 Sneyd works included in the National Archives of Canada in Ottawa.

With upcoming appearances at conventions in Toronto and San Diego this year, Sneyd says he and his partner Heidi enjoy meeting people. "I feel like an old man, though, when they come out and say things like, 'I didn't know you were still alive!'" he said with a laugh. "'And you're a legend!' they'll say."

I asked Sneyd if he has ever met the legendary founder and publisher of Playboy magazine, Hugh Hefner.

"I met him at the opening of Montreal's Playboy Club in 1967," he said. "Hef, they call him. At that time, I was just another cartoonist - we just shook hands and that was it. I doubt he even remembers it." Sneyd paused, then opined on working for Playboy for nearly 50 years.

"People visit the magazine for a number of reasons, as the articles and interviews are still consistently good," said Sneyd.

"Hef keeps a pretty good control over this sort of thing. I think he edits everything, certainly all the cartoons." He concluded, "And I know that people visit the magazine for the cartoons as well, because I meet fans who have been reading my stuff for decades."

As someone who has chuckled at plenty of Sneyd's upbeat cartoons over the years, I personally hope he has many more gags and punchlines yet to come.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Nuremberg

2011-06-26T06:03:00.001-07:00

No other city, except for Dresden, was so severely damaged during World War II, but the Market Square and Beautiful Fountain were rebuilt; Nuremburg is one of Germany's most historic cities, with a recorded history going back to 1050.

Doug and I hiked up steep cobblestone streets to the Imperial Castle.

The climb to the tower of the Imperial Castle complex gives you a wonderful view of the city.

When you visit the Albrecht Durer House, you can see a replica of the workshop where he printed his woodcuts with a working printing press.

The Nazi Documentation Center (at the far right) is housed in one small wing of Hitler's cavernous, unfinished Congress Hall, designed to house 50,000 spectators.

The Zeppelin Field was the site of the Nazis' biggest rallies, including those filmed by Leni Riefenstahl. The towering swastika was blown up by the Allies soon after the end of the war.

This is the entrance to Nuremberg's Palace of Justice; we visited courtroom 600 - the site of the Nuremberg trial of 21 Nazi war criminals.

The 21 Nazi war criminals stood trial here in 1945. After a year of trials and deliberations, 12 were sentenced to death by hanging, 3 were acquitted and the rest were sent to prison. Courtroom 600 is an active courtroom to this day.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough Reject of the Week

2011-06-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

The Creative Process: Green-eyed Redhead

2011-06-19T06:05:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Regensburg

2011-06-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

The large medieval center of Regensburg - with quaint cobblestone streets and courtyards - is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The fourth largest city in Bavaria is known as "the city of churches" because of the unusually large number of places of worship. We visited the cathedral of St. Peter, built on the site of a former Roman military camp.

City walking tours are not always about churches and cathedrals; our guide stopped outside an interesting window display in the historic district to explain that Der Hutmacher had made the iconic hat worn by Johnny Depp as The Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. The German millinery shop is known internationally for its craftsmanship; the Queen of England is a client.

Our morning tour ended at the 1,014-foot long Stone Bridge, built in the 12th Century.

The former Benedictine monastery of St. Emmeram was converted into a castle in 1812 and inhabited by the princely family of Thurn and Taxis, who established the first certified mail and precious goods delivery service in Europe and held the monopoly of the imperial postal system from 1490 to 1867.

Today, they are the largest landholder in Germany, one of its wealthiest families and still in residence after more than 250 years.

After visiting Thurn and Taxis castle, we stopped at the castle's cafe for a glass of wine before heading back to the ship.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

Playboy Gag Rough of the Week

2011-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:00

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

10 x 14 Pencil Rendering

2011-06-12T06:05:00.000-07:00

Doug rendered this 10 x 14 pencil with an accent wash of color using Dr. Ph. Martin's aniline dyes on 100% cotton 140 Lb. cold pressed Arches of France watercolor paper.

(please note: Our Epson scanning bed is smaller than 10 x 14 so the artwork was xeroxed and reduced before being scanned; therefore, some of the details are not as clear as on the original.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)

On the Road: Deggendorf, Germany

2011-06-12T06:03:00.000-07:00

Lynn Johnston, creator of the For Better or For Worse comic strip, Doug and I enjoyed a horse-drawn carriage ride through the Bavarian Forest near the small village of Baernzell. Called the "green roof of Europe," the Bavarian Forest is Germany's first and oldest national park, established in 1972.

Later in the morning, we visited the corporate office, production plant and museum of Theresienthal glass, located on the outskirts of Zwiesel on the historic Glass Route connecting Passau and Prague.

Theresienthal designed elaborate glass for the courts of the Russian czar, King Ludwig of Bavaria and the French court.

After a busy tourist day, it was a pleasure to have dinner on the upper deck of the River Princess. Executive chef Manuel Marques spoiled us with his wonderful cuisine during our 15-day Danube - Rhine river cruise.

(blog entries by Heidi Hutson)